Magical – Quakes Win Clasico

The green smoke rose, a victory in the air. Angelinos were ready to celebrate in Nor Cal, their traveling band of supporters in full voice. Inside Stanford Stadium, Landon Donovan and the LA Galaxy were leading 2-1 over the diminished San Jose Earthquakes, short a man, Victor Bernardez having seen red.

Seconds on the clock vanishing, stoppage time, and the referee set to call it on the California Clasico. But not before the miracle: the Quakes, dead then alive.

First, Salinas grabbed the equalizer in the 92nd minute. 50,000 roars ascended. San Jose enlightened by the force. The ref drew his breath. Before he could blow for time, Chavez, the winger, the maestro, sent in a cross; Salinas knocked it to Cronin, draw his chip to the back post as sublime, and there to meet the arc, the old war horse, Alan Gordon, burying it into the back of the net with his noggin. The Galaxy goalie collapsed, Los Angeles dead.

The green smoke was gone by now. The blue smoke from San Jose’s 1906 Ultras took to the air, their team so badly in need of a win, delivered. Stanford Stadium exploded like the fireworks that came later to celebrate the upcoming Fourth of July, the American spirit in this great soccer game remembered in the rockets red glare.